A methane gas explosion at a coal mine in eastern Ukraine has injured at least 26 people.

It was the third mining accident in Ukraine in less than a week. Officials said the accident occurred on August 4 at a mine in the Luhansk region, leaving 5 miners hospitalized with severe burns and 21 with minor injuries.

Ukraine's coal mines are considered among the world's most dangerous because of outdated equipment and widespread disregard of safety rules.

On July 29, an explosion and an elevator collapse at two coal mines in eastern Ukraine killed 37 miners.